Auckland Tragedy.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1922, Page 1

Auckland Tragedy.

YOUNG WOMAN’S SENSATIONAL 'DEED. f BY TFLEGItAI’U- —PER I’ItESS ASSOCIATION] AUCKLAND, May 31. A tragedy occurred a few minutes afternoon at the Strand Arcade, Miss Ina Alary Nalder, aged 25, a clerk in the Pacific Cable Board’s Office, hurled a fouryear old girl over the balustrade on the top floor and then her.se.l jumped to her death i 0 feet below.

The child Betty Nalder, was the adopted daughter of the woman’s mother who died about a year ago. lip n her mother’s death Miss Nalder to k upon herself the duty of looking aiter tlio child to whom she was greatly attached. The child was being treated at a hospital for a broken arm, and Miss Nalder took her out lor a day.

At tile inquest, the following letter written by the deceased to the Corono and found in a handbag was read: -

This is to state 1 am so unhappy that I cannot live any longer. I am not of temporary unsound mind, as the papers are always in tlie habit of saying I wish my money—namely £IOO0 —invested with a firm in Nelson, and npproxim (telv £l5O in the Auckland sa\iiigs hank, as well as any salary due to me, to go to the Auckland Hospital. None of my relatives, have ever cared for me, or taken any iuteiest in me. Therefore they have no light, to the money and I do pot wish any ol them to come near my remains, or to take any interest in my affairs whatever. No one will miss me.” ,i witness prod need a letter, written to his daughter, and received at noon that day, but too late to aveit t!*e tragedy, though the police and the Cable Board had telephoned imiliediutel.v.

Thu letter stated that Miss Nahfcr fell keenly that a friend of hers hrd became engaged to another and she had nothing to live for. She indicated her intention of suiciding and of taking the child Betty with her. The Coroner found a ycrilict to the effect that the deed was done while the woman was of unsound mind. A young woman employed in a shop in the Arcade had a narrow escape from injury. She was buttoning n glove <n her outstretched hand, and the child struck her hand, falling at her feet. Before she had recovered from her shock, the woman’s body fell a lew feet a wav.